Is it okay if I don’t go to the hospital after a car accident?

Long story short, no, it’s not okay. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you not only need to get medical help right away, you also need to follow the doctor’s advice. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes you could make would be not to go to the hospital after a car accident. Not only will it be harmful to your physical health, it will also be harmful to the health of your case.

The Jones Law Group has a team of attorneys who have a lot of experience helping people who have suffered catastrophic injuries in car wrecks. We know how important it is for people to seek medical treatment because we’ve seen what can happen when they don’t. When you choose our firm, we’ll provide the expert legal representation you need. We’ll also be here to support you throughout your case, answering all of your questions and addressing all of your concerns.

Here’s some information on why it will be so vitally important that you get checked out if you’ve been involved in an automobile accident. If you would like a free review of your case, please give us a call at (727) 571-1333 or contact us online.

You Should Always go to the Hospital After a Car Accident

You might have immediately recovered from the initial mental shock of being in a car wreck. Now you’re checking yourself to see if you’ve suffered a severe injury. Everything seems to check out – you don’t believe you have any broken bones, and you don’t see any blood. It’s natural that you’ll feel a huge sense of relief.

But that doesn’t mean you’re actually fine. As you’ll find out later, the body’s defenses go into overdrive when a shock takes place. If you don’t see a doctor, you might just find out you’ve been hurt much worse than you think once those defenses wear off.

Insurance Companies May Use the Delay Against You

The insurance company of the at-fault driver is going to do whatever it takes to keep you from getting the money you have coming. They will have a good idea of the injury you’ve suffered, and they’ll know what your claim will be worth.

But if you don’t to the hospital after a car accident, you’re going to be playing right into that insurer’s hands. They absolutely love it when people don’t see a doctor after a car wreck because it makes it much easier for the insurance company to deny a claim. They can make the argument that you’re not as badly injured as you claim – and they’ll very likely be able to convince a jury of exactly that. Instead of making you a fair settlement offer, they’ll be much more willing to take your case to court.

Even if You Don’t Feel Injured, Go Anyways

As we referenced earlier, the body has an incredible way of protecting itself when a traumatic event such as a vehicle collision takes place. It releases adrenaline, a substance that blocks the body’s pain receptors. That’s why a lot of people can’t immediately tell that they’ve been seriously hurt.

Unfortunately, that supply of adrenaline subsides after a while. That’s when people learn the hard way just how bad their injury really is. You might only feel a little discomfort right after the crash, only to experience excruciating pain just a few hours later. There’s also a chance that your injury will turn out much worse than it otherwise would have if you had received immediate medical attention. The worse it gets, the harder it might be to treat.

Types of Injuries that may Manifest Later

These are just a few examples of the many kinds of injuries that might not show symptoms right away.

• Back pain – A car crash can lead to misaligned vertebrae, a herniated disc, or even a potentially severe spinal injury. These issues might only result in minor discomfort at first, only to worsen significantly within a few hours or days.
• Neck pain – Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that result from a rear-end collision. When a car is hit from behind, that can cause the driver’s neck to violently move back and forth in a whip-like motion. This can eventually result in severe pain, stiffness, and a lack of range of motion.
• Headaches – You might not realize there’s such a thing as a whiplash headache, which is obviously related to the injury mentioned above. But headaches can also be a sign of something even more serious, such as a concussion or a traumatic brain injury.

Follow Your Medical Treatment Plan to the Letter

Not only do you need to go to the hospital after a car accident, but you’ll also need to do exactly what your doctor tells you to do long-term.

The most important goal, of course, is to recover as quickly and fully as possible, so you can get back to normal. The best way to achieve that goal will be to follow your doctor’s treatment plan. It doesn’t matter if you think your doctor is worrying too much. They’re professionals, and they’re only doing what they think is best for you. Failing to follow that plan could make it much harder to get back to what you love to do.

Also, failing to follow your plan will give the insurance company ammunition to use against you. It could damage your case so badly that you don’t get full and fair compensation.

Save All Medical Documents, Including Discharge Paperwork and Bills

In order to get what you deserve – whether that’s through an out-of-court settlement or a trial – you’re going to need proof of your financial losses or “damages.” That means you’re going to need to show evidence of your medical bills. Save every piece of paper related to your treatment – your hospital bills, prescription receipts, and everything else. This could prove invaluable to helping ensure your compensation is equitable.

Contact Jones Law Group to Get the Compensation You Deserve

Choosing a personal injury attorney is an incredibly important decision. When you get in touch with Jones Law Group, we’ll be very happy to answer whatever questions you may have. Use our online contact form or call (727) 571-1333 for a free review of your case.